Discover: January 2009 Archives

The
University community came out in droves across campus Tuesday to watch
the inauguration of Barack Obama. Mandel Hall hosted a viewing and
discussion of the historic event. (Photo by Lloyd DeGrane)

Thank you to the folks who have shared their personal perspectives on the Inauguration with Chicago Studies! Here's a selection of photos and writing from Chicago Studies staff and friends.

First, pre-k students in snow boots and formalwear.
Inauguration day in Hyde Park by Chicago Studies.
The pre-kindergarten students of Bouchet Math and Science Academy dress
up for their own "Inauguration Ball." (Photo by Rachel Cromidas)Mandel Hall was packed during the Progress and Politics event on Tuesday morning. Robert Gooding-Williams, Professor of
Political Science at the University of Chicago, and Charles Branham,
Senior Historian at the DuSable Museum, led a discussion after viewing the inaugural address.

Photo by Lloyd DeGrane.

Kelin Hall records the cautious optimism of Branham and Gooding-Williams.

Aretha Franklin's performance, he said, changed his expectations for
national hymns, and Elizabeth Alexander's poem was the "most engaging,
least predictable," part of the event, which "brought it back to the
ordinary," affirming Obama's message that we need changes not just in
policy, but in the way we treat each other.

Showcasing African American talent, Gooding-Williams said,
symbolically affirmed the African American accomplishment. Branham said
that in contrast, the "bombastic" nature of the inauguration's opening
sermon and introduction, and the un-nuanced linking of Obama with
King's legacy, left him "unimpressed."

While Obama's barber Zariff took in the inauguration from the
National Mall, Tony Coye tended to the shop's customers between media
interviews. Coye says an average of two or three people per day come in
asking for the same cut Obama gets.

"I have a client coming in today--her hair is down to her butt," Coye said. "She's getting an Obama cut."

"I remember him handing out literature on the street corner," said
Jimmy Prowell, 70. "At first it was hard to imagine him in the White
House."

With its cheap eats and friendly conversation, Valois has become a
symbol of the diverse community that made Obama--a fact that was not
lost on the seven TV stations that marched into Valois armed with video
cameras and microphones.

The first place to go is the coverage College Students are providing from DC and Chicago at the Chicago Studies website. The University's News Office is also a great place to find connections between "the life of the mind" and the swearing-in of our 44th President.

The Blog that Works has collected some links for Chicago-area Inauguration info:

The Reynolds Club and the Blue Gargoyle are hosting viewing parties on Tuesday morning

The Blog that Works is out of winter hibernation at just the wrong time-- today's subzero temperatures are making any activity that doesn't involve hot chocolate and my living room seem entirely unappealing. This morning my car refused to budge out of its iced-in parking spot, giving me a personal snow day and lots of time to think about how to get around without it. Here's a roundup of Chicago transit and winter news, brought to you by my temporary homeboundedness. Hyde Park Progress considers the pros and cons of adopting various parking meter rate schemes. Chicagoist analyzes last year's big increase in CTA ridership, but a commenter suggests an alternative interpretation. The Tribune documents some clever techniques for maintaining a parking space-- if only they'd published yesterday, I might have made it out of Hyde Park today! A fourth-grader in Hammond fell victim to a triple-dog-dare and ended up with a tongue injury. The Chicago Foundation for Women is honoring an important anniversary this week with a spoken word event. And for a nice healthy dose of winter escapism, check out these nifty shots of fractal river deltas near the Mediterranean coast.